Fresh, endearing, and heartfelt.
A spring break visit leads to surprising revelations for people-pleasing Imogen Scott, a passionate straight ally.
It’s spring break of her senior year, and Imogen is about to stay with Lili Cardoso, her childhood best friend, at the college Imogen herself will be attending in the fall. She’s afraid that Lili, with a circle of new queer friends, may have moved on from their friendship. On top of that, as a long-standing and respectful member of her high school’s Pride Alliance, Imogen tries to do everything in her power to avoid inappropriately invading queer spaces. So, she is not sure if there will be room for her in Lili’s life now. Adding to her concerns, Lili, newly out as pansexual, admits that, in a spontaneous attempt to seem more experienced, she told everyone at college that she and Imogen are amicable exes. This fabricated history contains the additional lie that Imogen is bisexual—but when Imogen starts to feel a spark between her and kind and charismatic Tessa, and years of hidden feelings come crashing into view, she is forced to reckon with the possibility that it might not be so far from the truth. The friendships and relationship dynamics are believable and heartfelt. Imogen’s journey feels authentic and sincere, and readers will find it difficult not to fall for her. Imogen is coded White; Lili is Brazilian American, and Tessa is Jewish.
Fresh, endearing, and heartfelt. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780063045873
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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